Digital Storytelling Experiences and Outcomes with Different Recording Media: An Exploratory Case Study with Older Adults

Abstract

Digital storytelling is an advantageous practice for older adults. Although researchers have widely studied the effects of various recording media on users, including even their feelings of loneliness, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study that distinguishes and compares those effects within the digital storytelling process. In this exploratory case study, we tried to gain further insights into older adults' technology-mediated storytelling, the interactions, and the outcomes that different kinds of recording media have on users. Therefore, three storytelling components (paper notebook, voice recorder, and web platform) were used to probe their usability and emotional outcomes on five pensioners in Greece. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, among others, were implemented for data collection. According to the results, there was a variety of benefits and shortcomings for each tool. However, the web platform had a clear effect on decreasing users’ loneliness. Implications and future work on digital storytelling are discussed.

Keywords:

• Digital storytelling
• loneliness
• older adults
• recording media

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Dimitra Giannopoulou, Katerina Karadimitriou, and Mary Chatzicharalambous for their guidance and assistance, as well as to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

Disclosure statement

There was no conflict of interest. This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Diogenis Alexandrakis

Diogenis Alexandrakis is a Computer Science teacher in Primary Education and a Ph.D. student at the Department of Informatics at the Ionian University. He was awarded two academic excellence scholarships (Greek State Scholarships Foundation and Hellenic Open University) and has several publications in international and national peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

Konstantinos Chorianopoulos

Konstantinos Chorianopoulos is teaching in the Department of Informatics at the Ionian University and in the School of Science and Technology at the Hellenic Open University. He holds a Diploma in Electronics and Computer Engineering, an M.Sc. in Marketing and Communication, and a Ph.D. in Interaction Design.

Nikolaos Tselios

Nikolaos Tselios is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education at the University of Patras and a Consulting Professor (and Course Coordinator) at the Hellenic Open University. He has over 100 publications in international and national journals and conferences and 2 patents.